Overshoe-retainer.



A T. J. BROWN. OVERSHOE RETAINER,

APPLICATION FiLED FEB. 7. I917.

1.,Q53JQQQ Patented. Jan. 8,1918.

' u. v V k v BY ATTORNEY @FFKQE.

THOMAS (1'. BROWN, 0F CRAWFORDSVILLE, IOWA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. a, 11918 hpplication filed February v, 1917. Serial 1%. 147,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS J. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crawfordsville, in the county of Washington and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Overshoe-Betainers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the provision of an overshoe retainer, and embodies a construction whereby the overshoe is effectively held associated with the shoe so as to prevent casual separation of these members, which frequently occurs when one is forced to pass through mud, snow and the like.

More specifically stated the invention embodies a heel plate adapted to be secured within the overshoe, and provides a support for a locking element designed to effectively engage the heel of the shoe, for holding the overshoe in position on the foot of the wearer. V

In carrying out the invention I aim to provide a construction whereby the locking element can be conveniently adjusted and held in an inactive position to facilitate putting on of the overshoe, together with means for automatically adjusting the locking element to an active position.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

1n the drawing forming part of this speciiication like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the severalviews and wherein 2- Figure 1 is a view showing the manner of using the invention, the overshoe being partly in section for this purpose.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device showing the locking element in inactive position.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the device showing the locking element in its active position.

lhe device forming the subject matter of my invention preferably embodies a plate 10 shaped to conform to the configuration of the heel of the overshoe indicated generally at A, and to which the plate is adapted to be secured on the inside of the overshoe in any suitable manner. The forward edge of the plate is provided with extensions 11, the lat ter terminating to provide loops 12, constituting bearings for a transverse rod 13 which is mounted for partial rotation within the bearings. One end of the rod is bent at right angles as at 14, while this portion of the rod is reversely bent to provide the portion 15, the latter being coiled about the rod 13 and terminating to provide a pointed prong 16 disposed adjacent one extremity of the rod 1'. The opposite extremity of the rod terminates to provide a prong 1.? similar to the prong 16, with which it is dis posed in spaced parallel relation. Coiled about the rod 13 between the prongs 16 and 17 respectively is a coil spring 18, the latter being provided with an intermediate looped extension 19 which is secured to the plate in a manner to tension the spring for holding the prongs 16 and 17 in an upright or active position.

In practice, the overshoe is applied to the shoe preferably in the ordinary well known manner, and just prior to the positioning of the heel of the shoe proper into the heel of the overshoe, the portions 14 and 15 of the rod, which constitute a manipulating member for the latter, are depressed, there by rotating the shaft for the purpose of moving the prongs 16 and 17 forwardly of the plate 10 to an out of the way position to facilitate the application of the overshoe. During this operation, the spring 18 is placed under maximum tension. Subsequent to positioning the heel of the shoe proper into the heel portion of the overshoe, the manipulating member is released, whereupon the spring 18 functions to rotate the rod 13 in an opposite direction, during which operation the prongs 16 and 17 respectively embed themselves in the heel of the shoe proper, thus providing an effective connection between the shoe proper and the overshoe, with a view of preventing casual. separation of these parts under any condition. In this position of parts, the manipulating member defined by the portions 14 and 15 respectively of the rod 13, is arranged vertically between the shoe proper and the overshoe indicated at A, and can be conveniently grasped to rotate the shaft in the proper direction to disengage the prongs 16 and 17 from the heel of the shoe proper, when it is desired to remove the overshoe.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention Will be readily apparent, I-

desire to have it understood that What is herein shown and described is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention to which I do not limit myself;

and that such changes may be resortedto when desired as fall ithin the scope of what is claimed.

VVhatis claimed is 1. The combination with an overshoe, of

a plate engaged therein, bearings formed at two corners of the plate,'a rod journ'aled in said bearings, said rod terminating at one endin an upwardly extending prong, the opposite end of the l'odbe'lng bent at right angles to pnovide a levei","'said lever being fi-evei'sely bent and coiled about the i'od and Iterminatnig in a second prong, said prongs being disposed in spaced parallel relation,

Copies of this'pa tent nay be obtained for as; described.

and yieldable means operating to normally maintain said prongs in a position to engage the heel of the shoe.

2. The combination With an ovei'slioe, of

a plate engaged therein, bearings formed on said plate, a rod ournaled in said hearlngs, a wprong formed at one end of said rod, the opposite end of said rod beingbent at i-ight angles topi'ovide an operating lever for the rod, said leyei being reversely bent and coiled abont'tlierod, terminating in a prong disposed in spaced parallelism With five cents each, by addressing the (Commissioner of Yatents, Washington} D. C. i 

